Timex Social Club

Timex Social Club
Timex Social Club
Also known as	TSC, The Social Club, The Timex Crew
Origin	Berkeley, California
Genres	R&B, new jack swing, dance, post-disco, soul
Years active	1982–1987
Labels	Jay Records/Danya/Fantasy Records
Past members	Marcus Thompson; Gregory "Greg B" Thomas; Michael Marshall; Craig Samuel; Darrien Cleage; Alex Hill; Kevin Moore

The Timex Social Club was an American contemporary R&B group, formed in 1982. The group is perhaps best known for its 1986 hit single, "Rumors" and for being major forerunners of the new jack swing movement.

History

Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founder), Gregory "Greg B" Thomas, Michael Marshall, Craig Samuel and Darrien Cleage. By 1986, Samuel, Cleage and Thomas had departed, and both Alex Hill and Kevin Moore were added to complete the group, and the name Timex Social Club was adopted. They specialized in both old school hip hop and the merger of urban R&B with hip hop rhythms, which were later known as new jack swing.

In 1986, the group released the Vicious Rumors album on Danya/Fantasy Records. It had one major hit, "Rumors", which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also reached #1 in Canada and #13 in the UK Singles Chart,^[1] and held the number 1 position for: US Billboard R&B chart, Hot Black Singles-Sales, Hot Black Singles-Airplay, US Hot Dance Club Play, Hot Dance/Disco-12 inch singles sales charts.

The two follow-up singles "Thinkin' About Ya" and "Mixed-Up World" both reached the R&B Top 20.

Rumors

The success of the single "Rumors", prompted hip hop impresario Russell Simmons to hire the group as the opening act for thirty-eight dates on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour in 1986. Other acts on the tour were Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Whodini. Besides solo dates, the group also opened for New Edition, Midnight Star, the S.O.S. Band, Kool & The Gang, and Jermaine Jackson.

Touring

As of 2011, the current Timex Social Club roster consists of founding member Marcus Thompson (DJ) and Samuelle Prater (vocals) Timex Social Club still tours. They can also be booked for Old School 80's concerts, private parties and appearances through GigSalad.com (http://www.gigsalad.com/timex_social_club) and GigMasters.com (http://www.gigmasters.com/rb-band/Timex-Social-Club/). Their records still surface on Pop and R&B radio, especially during old-school mix shows. The group's records have now become sample sources for contemporary artists such as: 2 Pac, Public Enemy (group), Master P and others.

In pop culture - cover versions, parodies and usage

Over the years, the group's hit "Rumors" has spawned a host of remakes, parodies and uses, such as:

"Back From The Dead" - House Of Pain
"Half Man Half Machine" - Goldie Lookin Chain
"He said, she said..." Andre Nickatina and Mike Marshall
"Hookaz" - South Central Cartel
"Jealousy" - Club Nouveau
"More News At 11" - Public Enemy (band)
"Roaches"- Bobby Jimmy & the Critters
"Rumors" - Jo De La Rosa
"Rumors" - Mr. Shadow
"Stop Hatin'" - Master P
"Soon As I Get Home" - 2 Pac
"Rumores" - Memo Rios & M.C. Aplausos
"Jealous Niggas" - Guerilla Maab

Their single, "Thinkin' About Ya", was first sampled by Club Nouveau on "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (Life, Love and Pain, Warner Bros. Records 25531). The following is a selected list of other covers/samples.

"Rumors" Father Dom feat. [Timex Social Club]
"Can't Trust a Man" - Mia X feat. Suga T
"Lifestyles Of The Rich and Shameless" - Lost Boyz
"How Can I Get Over You" (Remix feat. LL Cool J) - Taral Hicks
"I Got 5 On It" (featuring Michael Marshall) - Luniz
"I'm Gonna Be Alright" (Track Masters remix, featuring 50 Cent) - Jennifer Lopez
"Irresistible" (So So Def remix, feat. Lil Bow Wow) - Jessica Simpson
"Only U" - Ashanti
"Satisfy You" (feat. R. Kelly) - P Diddy
"Thinking Bout U" (feat. Mia X) - Master P
"Untouchable" (feat. Infa-Red, Cross and Drag-On, Syleena Johnson, Sheek Louch) - DMX
"What's My Name" - Mr. Capone-E

Discography

Albums

Vicious Rumors (1986) - US R&B #29

Singles

Song	High Position	Chart
Rumors	#1, #8, #13	US, R&B, Dance, UK, CAN
Mixed Up World	#15	R&B
Thinkin' About Ya	#15	R&B^[2]

Awards and Nominations

Year	Source	Song	Result	Misc.
1986	Commendation	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Awarded (key to city)	Mayor Richard L. Berkley Kansas City MO.
1986	Proclamation	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Awarded	Governor John D. Ashcroft state of MO.
1986	Bay Area Top Star Music Awards	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Awarded	-
1987	American Music Awards	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Bammies/Bay Area Music Awards	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Juno Awards (CANADA)	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Soul Train Music Awards	Rumors/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-

Books

I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture by Joseph Stone(1994)^[3]
Mad Season: (Changing Stations)] by Joseph Stone(2005)^[4]
Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited by Randolph Michaels (2005)^[5]
How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story Of Timex Social Club by Marcus A. Thompson (2011)^[6]

Film

1986: Modern Girls

Television

2001: The Proud Family, Disney (Season 1 Episode 3 - "Rumors")
2008: The Hills, MTV (Season 4 Episode 16 - "You Did This")

References

^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ Timex Social Club- R&B chart placements @Billboard.com Retrieved 6-12-2011.
^ Turner, Patricia (1994). I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. US. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-520-08936-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Stone, Joseph (2005). Mad Season: (Changing Stations). US. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story Of Timex Social Club. US. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-257-28542-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-1] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[Billboard-2] Timex Social Club- R&B chart placements @Billboard.com Retrieved 6-12-2011.

[I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine:_Rumor_in_African-American_Culture-3] Turner, Patricia (1994). I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. US. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-520-08936-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[Mad_Season:(Changing_Stations)-4] Stone, Joseph (2005). Mad Season: (Changing Stations). US. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[Flashbacks_to_Happiness:_Eighties_Music_Revisited-5] Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[How_Do_Rumors_Get_Started:_The_True_Story_Of_Timex_Social_Club-6] Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story Of Timex Social Club. US. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-257-28542-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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